Page 25

“You will never be alone.” Kriz’s voice has a darkness to it from behind me, making me shiver. The smoke is blotting out the sun, and it’s grown colder as the cities burn.

“Who?” asks Ra’al. Now it is Orr’s turn to be silent. He simply watches me, his cold grey eyes boring through me.

My thoughts race. I didn’t expect them to consider it. I thought if I stopped, one of them would grab me and drag me into the Aurelian Reaver.

Lola is in the most need of protection, but the three Aurelians gave me their word that she is safe. Something tells me that despite the brands on their chests, they have a warped code of honor, and I can trust their word. No matter how brutal the other triad is, they won’t touch her.

So who?

If I’m going to have a chance to escape, before I’m Bonded for eternity, I need someone smart and capable to get my back.

“Kat and Summer. They’re my closest friends.”

The three Aurelians take a moment of silence. Then Kriz turns to the garden. “Kat. Come with us.”

My eyes flit up, and there’s something in Orr’s gaze that keeps me quiet about Summer. She can take care of herself. I know that now, after seeing the way she looked after the attack.

Kat walks out, her steps light and bouncy, despite everything.

“You fought well with that rifle. I saw many Scorp with holes the size of a grapefruit in their hearts,” says Orr, his voice low and rumbly, filled with genuine respect.

“I had to,” replies Kat, simply. She stands straight-backed, her legs widened, in a stance of unbothered readiness.

“You are the only one who does not wear the robes of a servant. If you come with us, will you do as you’re told?” Now Orr’s voice is more serious.

“That depends on what you tell me to do.”

There’s a hiss of breath from behind me as Kriz exhales out of his nostrils in a way that sounds almost like a laugh. He steps closer, and he’s so tall he can talk to her over my shoulder, like I’m not even there. “Our Mate asked for you by name. You proved yourself in this battle. You won’t need to do anything but keep her company.”

Kat makes eye contact with me. I don’t know what she’s searching for in my face, but she sees it, nodding. “I will. And if anything happens, you can trust me.”

“Good.” Ra’al motions for her to approach, and he and Orr stand to the side, letting her pass. She steps into the protective ring of alien bodies.

Kat looks back to the garden, where the other servants are standing, stunned. Some of them have the same expressions as when we were in the great hall, listening to the sirens blaring and waiting for our terrible fate. The three brutal Aurelians are standing still as statues, staring at the women, but instead of desire, I see only anger.

“No disrespect meant. But should that triad be left with them?”

I wince. The leader of the second triad steps towards the gates of the garden, his face contorted with rage, when Ra’al raises his hand. “Yes. They are my most trusted men. They will keep these women safe until we get control of this planet.”

The other Aurelian nods, as his leader gives him respect.

“Come,” barks out Kriz, and Kat and I follow him through the huge gates of the estate to the attack ship. It may be the smallest ship in the Aurelian forces, but it’s huge, dwarfing me. Kriz takes us to the side, and as he approaches, the ship seems to recognize him. The flawless, gleaming black metal opens seamlessly, and inside, the ship is clinical and white, all lit up brightly.

Kriz steps in, and Kat and I can do nothing but follow. He turns to the left, marching down a hallway, and another set of doors open into the main bridge of the ship. I never thought I’d see a Reaver from the inside. There are three huge seats, made for the massive alien species. The ones on the left and right are in front of the Orb gunneries, and the one at the front has a view through the reinforced glass.

I’m nearly bowled over as the Aurelians take to their seats in a motion practiced thousands of times, their robes whipping from their movements as they sit, with Ra’al at the front, holding the wheel, Kriz at the right, and Orr to the left.

“Should I hold onto something?” I ask, nervous as the ship hums to life.

“Anti-gravity is active,” replies Kriz in a practiced tone.

With that, the ship blasts upwards silently, the only sound a low hum as Ra’al takes off expertly, piloting me away from the only home I’ve known for near a decade.

8

Rachel

As we fly towards the Royal City, I have to see the devastation, but I’m nervous to go near the Aurelians as they are piloting the machine to get a clearer line of sight through the viewport.